Coupling for railway or other vehicles.



No. 764,152. P'ATEN'IED JULY 5, 1904. D. ROCHE.

COUPLING FOR RAILWAY OR OTHER VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1903 N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 14PATENTED'JULY 5, 1904.

D. ROCHE.

COUPLING FOR RAILWAY OR OTHER VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 22 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H0 MODEL.

- 'PATENT'FD JULY 5, 1904.

I 1). ROCHE.

COUPLING FOR RAILWAY OR OTHER VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1903.

v 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented July 5, 1904.

DAVID ROCHE, OF EALING, ENGLAND.

COUPLING FOR RAILWAY OR OTHER VEHICLES- SPECIFIGA'IION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 764,152, dated July 5, 1904.

Application filed June 22, 1903. Serial No. 162,642. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID RooIIE, a subject of the King ofEngland,residing at Ealing, in the county of Middlesex, England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Couplingsfor Railway or other Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to couplings for railway and other vehicles andsimilar purposes, and refers more particularly to that class of couplingknown as automatic.

The chief object of the invention is to provide a coupling which canreadily be operated automatically or by hand to engage the vehicles andas readily operated from the side of the vehicle to release thecouplingirrespective of the load or strain which may be on it.

According to this invention there is mounted on a spring-controlled orother draw-bar at the end of the vehicle a rotatable or tumbling hookadapted to be engaged by a link or its equivalent on the end of thecontiguous vehicle, so that when the vehicles come together the link orthe like on one vehicle is guided into an opening in the hook, causingit to rotate on its pivot and in rotating to operate a locking-pin orsimilar device, which engages with the tumbling-hook and secures it inposition. The pivot on which the hook is mounted is such and the openingin the hook in which the link rests is such relatively to the draw-barthatany pull brought to bear on the coupling is in alinement with itslongitudinal axis. The locking-pin, which is operated by the hook as itrotates, is so mounted that when a pull is put upon the coupling none ofthe loadbears upon the locking-pin. The draw-bar head is preferablydouble or with a central recess or opening, at the outer end of which ismounted the pivot-pin on which the tumbling hook is mounted. Thedraw-bar head also carries the rotatable shaft, having a cam eccentricor acrank with which the hook when it rotates, as above described,engages to rotate the shaft and cause the locking-pin carried by theshaft or the'eccentric thereon to engage with an opening or recess onthe hook to secure the coupling. The opening at the outer end of thehook is formed close to the pivot and in such position that when thehook is in its open position this slot points toward the contiguousvehicle or away from the vehicle on which the hook is mounted, so thatthe link on the opposite vehicle passes into the opening, and as thevehicles come together the hook is caused to rotate and to be looked, asabove described. In order to insure that the link of the contiguousvehicle will be guided into its proper position and caused to press thehook downward to rotate the aforementioned eccentric,apivoted or otherpresserarm capable of movement within certain limits is mounted on thedraw-bar head or other adjacent part and adapted to lie above the hook,and as this lever is prevented from rising it forces the link down ontoa shoulder or extension on the hook, forcing it downward into engagementwith the cam, and thereby causing the shaft to rotate. In addition tothe hook above described each draw-bar head is preferably provided witha coupling-link, so that either the hook or the link may be brought intoaction, as desired, and when two vehicles come together the link on thehigher vehicle will engage with the hook on the lower one, the otherparts of the couplings being out of action. The link of one vehicle isguided into the opening of the hook preferably by the link of thisvehicle, and in order that the link may be in position to form a guideit is provided with an extension which engages with an eccentric or armupon the locking-shaft carried by the draw-bar head, or, if desired, anyother convenient form of stop may be provided with the hook to retainthe opening therein in the correct position for coupling. For releasingthe vehicle without necessitating any one passing between them thelocking-shaft is extended across the end of the vehicle and carries ateither or both ends a counterbalance-lever, which is held in either ofits extreme positions by suitable stops."

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a sectional side elevationshowing the coupling in its locked or coupled position.- Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the parts open or released. Fig. 3 is a plan ofFig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the coupling-hook and lockingmechanism.

A is a coupling-hook; B, the coupling-link; C, the locking-shaft; D, apresser orguiding lever.

E is the draw-bar head, and F the operatinglever.

In a preferred form each end of the'vehicle carries a spring-controlledor other draw-bar head E, on which is mounted a coupling-hook A and acoupling-link B. The hook A is mounted on a short shaft or pivot a, onwhich it rotates, and in the uncoupled position the jaws A of the hookare directed toward the adjacent vehicle and the link B, which is alsomounted on the shaft (a, acts when not employed for coupling as a guidefor the link on the adjacent vehicle to direct said link into the jaws Aof the hook. When the vehicles come together, the coupling-link B, say,of the right-hand vehicle H is guided by the link of the left-handvehicle H and passes into the opening A in the hook A of the vehicle H,and when the end of the link comes against the in-, ner end of the jawsthe hook A rotates on its pivot a and after it has tumbled over a part Aof the hook bears on a crank C mounted on the locking-shaft C, which iscarried in suitable bearings in the draw -bar head, and

. causes the shaft C to rotate in such a manner that when the crank Cmoves through a certain distance the pin C, which is mountedeccentrically on the shaft (1, passes into engagement with a slot A inthe hook A and securely locks the hook in position. It is to be notedthat when the hook A is in the coupled posi tion the jaw liesapproximately in the line of the pivot, so that the pulling strain istaken entirely by the pivot and none of the stress comes upon thelocking-pin C. Preferably the jaws are allowed to fall below the pivot,and when the coupling is to be released the eccentric or crank C bearsagainst the hook immediately the pin C is moved out of the slot A andraises the hook above the center of the pivot,- so that when a pull isbrought to bear on the hook by the link it rotates freely on its pivotto release the coupling. In order to prevent the coupling-link B fromrising too far and cause it to operate the locking shaft, apresser-lever D is pivoted to the draw-bar head above the path of thelink B, and this lever is prevented from rising by means of a stop D onthe draw-bar head. The lever D is permitted to turn on its pivot D, butis retained in position to permit the link to pass between it and thepivot of the hook by means of a stop A carried by the hook. Thecoupling-link which for the time being is acting as a guide for thecouplinglink of the other vehicle is retained in proper position by astop C, carried on the lockingshaft (1, which bears on a shoulder B ofthe coupling-link. The shaft C extends across the end of the vehicle andis carried in suitlever F is provided having a counterbalance F. Thelever is prevented from moving too far bymeans of a stop C", whichengages with a corresponding stop J on the vehicle.

G represents the ordinary spring-controlled buffers which can beemployed with this coupling, and, if desired, the coupling may beduplicated, in which case one draw-bar may have a coupling-hook and theother draw-bar on the same vehicle be provided with the coupling-link, aguide for the link being provided on the draw-bar carrying thecoupling-hook. It is to be noted that when in the coupled position thelocking-pin is so disposed that any pull brought to bear on thecoupling-hook tends to move the pin farther into the slot in the hook.

As shown in Fig. 1, the hook on the vehicle H which is not beingemployed for coupling is shown in its turned-over or closed position;but generally both hooks will be open to be engaged by the links of theopposite vehicles, if desired, the height-of the vehicle consequent onthe load thereon determining which link will act as a guide and which asthe coupling-link.

- To uncouple the vehicles, the lever F at either side of the vehicle isrotated, and after the pin C moves out of the slot A the eccentric Graises the hook above the center of the pivot a and permits the hook toopen and release the link, when the vehicles move apart.

IVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a car-coupling the combination with a hook turning in a verticalplane, of a transverse shaft, a crank on the shaft and means for holdingthe crank in position to'be struck by the tailpiece of the coupling-hookduring the movement of the latter into the coupling position and a pinon the crank arranged to enter a slot of the coupling-hook when thecrank has been carried beyond its dead-center by the coupling-hook inorder to lock the latter, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling the combination with a rotatable hook turning in avertical plane, of a transverse shaft, a crank on said shaft, a weightedlever on the shaft holding the crank in position to be struck by thetailpiece of the coupling-hook during the movement of the latter intothe coupling position, a pin secured to the crank-lever adapted to entera slot and means whereby the weighted lever carries the crank beyond thedead-point so that the pin in the slot locks the coupling.

3. In a car-coupling the combination with a draw-bar, of a rotatablecoupling-hook pivoted to the draw-bar, a locking device adapted toengage with the hook in its coupled position, means whereby thecoupling-link of an adjacent vehicle rotates the hook, means whereby thehook in rotating operates the locking device and means for guiding thecoupling-link of an adjacent vehicle into the hook.

4. In a car-coupling the combination with a draw-bar, of a rotatablecoupling-hook pivoted thereto, a locking device adapted to engage withthe hook in its coupled position, means for guiding the coupling-link ofan adjacent vehicle into the hook, means whereby the said coupling-linkrotates the hook,- means whereby the hook in rotating operates thelocking device and means for releasing the hook from the side of thevehicle.

5. In a car-coupling the combination with a draw-bar, of a rotatablecoupling-hook pivoted to the bar, a locking device adapted to engagewith the hook in its coupled position, means for guiding thecoupling-link of an adjacent vehicle into the jaws of the hook, meanscausing the said link to rotate the hook, means for pressing the saidlink downward when rotating the hook, means causing the said hook tooperate the locking device and means for releasing the coupling.

6. Ina car-coupling the combination with a draw-bar, of a rotatablecoupling hook pivoted to the draw-bar and having an opening thelongitudinal axis of which is slightly above the pivot, a rotatablelocking device mounted in the draw-bar and operated to engage the hookwhen the latter is rotated and a guide mounted on the draw-bar to directthe coupling member of an adjacent vehicle into the opening of the hooksubstantially as described.

7. In a car-coupling the combination with a draw-bar, of a rotatablecoupling-hook pivoted to the draw-bar, a rotatable shaft mounted in thedraw-bar, a locking-pin carried by the shaft and adapted to engage thehook in its coupled position and a projection on the shaft against whichthe hook bears by rotating the shaft in coupling and which raises thehook when uncoupling.

8. In a car-coupling the combination with a divided drawbar,of arotatable coupling-hook pivoted within the draw-bar, a rotatable shaftmounted in the draw-bar, an eccentric lockingpin carried by the shaftand adapted to engage the hook in its coupled position and a crank onthe shaft against which the hook bears to rotate the shaft in couplingand which raises the hook when the shaft is turned in uncoupling.

9. In a car-coupling the combination with a draw-bar, of a rotatablecoupling hook pivoted to the bar, a rotatable shaft mounted in the bar,a locking-pin carried by the shaft and adapted to engage the hook in itscoupled position, an eccentric on the shaft against which the hook bearsto cause the locking-pin to engage the hook and which raises the hookwhen uncoupling and means for releasing the coupling by hand from theside of the vehicle.

10. In a car-coupling the combination with a draw-bar, of a rotatablecoupling-hook pivoted to the draw-bar, a rotatable shaft mounted in thedraw-bar, an eccentric locking-pin carried by the shaft and adapted toengage the coupling-link, substantially as described.

11. In a car-coupling the combination with a draw-bar, of a divided headcarried by the bar, a rotatable coupling-hook pivoted in the head,-arotatable shaft mounted on the head, an eccentric locking-pin carried bythe shaft, a crank on the shaft against which the hook bears to engagethe locking-pin with the hook and which raises the hook when uncoupling,a coupling-link mounted on the pivot-pin of the hook and adapted whennot in use for coupling to act as a guide for the couplinglink of anadjacent vehicle to direct said link into the jaws of the hook, a stopon the rotatable shaft adapted to engage a shoulder on the coupling-linkto raise it or lower it as desired and means for releasing the couplingsubstantially as described.

12. In a car-coupling the combination with a draw-bar, of a rotatablecoupling-hook pivoted to the draw-bar, a rotatable shaft mounted on thedraw-bar, an eccentric locking-pin carried by the shaft and adapted toengagethe hook into coupling position, a crank on the shaft, aprojection on the hook adapted to engage with the crank to cause thelockingpinto engage with a recess in the hook and means for releasingthe coupling from the side of the vehicle, substantially as described.

13. In a car-coupling the combination with i a draw-bar of a dividedhead carried by the bar, a rotatable coupling-hook pivoted inthecoupling-link of an adjacent vehicle bears and presses the hookdownward after retaining it, thereby causing the hook to engage with thecrank and rotate the shaft, a coupling-link mounted on the pivot-pin ofthe couplinghook, a stop on the rotatable shaft and a shoulder on thecoupling-link with which the stop engages, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

14. In a car-coupling the combination with a draw-bar of a divided headcarried by the bar, a rotatable coupling-hook pivoted in the head, arotatable shaft mounted in the drawbar head, a crank on the shaft, aneccentricpin mounted between the checks of the crank, a projection onthe coupling-hook adapted to engage with the crank on the rotatableshaft, a projection on the hook against which the coupling-link of anadjacent vehicle bears and presses the hook downward after retaining it,

mounted on the pivot-pin of the couplinghook, a stop on the rotatableshaft, a shoulder on the coupling-link with which the stop engages, anda pivoted presser-bar for guiding the said coupling-link of the adjacentvehicle, substantially as and for the purpose described. 15. In acar-coupling the combination with a draw-bar of a divided head carriedby the bar, a rotatable coupling-hook pivoted in the head, arotatableshaft mounted in the drawbar head, a crank on the shaft, an eccentricpinmounted between the checks of the crank, a projection on thecoupling-hook adapted to engage with the crank on the rotatable shaft, aprojection on the hook against which the coupling-link of an adjacentvehicle bears and presses the hook downward after retaining it, therebycausing the hook to engage with the crank and rotate the shaft, acoupling-link mounted on the pivot-pin of the couplinghook, a stop onthe rotatable shaft, a shoulder on the coupling-link with which the stopengages, a pivoted presser-bar for guiding the said coupling-link of theadjacent vehicle, a stop for preventing the presser-bar rising and astop on the rotatable hook for preventing the presser-bar from droppingtoo far, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. In a car-coupling the combination with a draw-bar of a divided headcarried by the bar, a rotatable coupling-hook pivoted in the head, arotatable shaft mounted in the drawbar head, a crank on the shaft, aneccentricpin mounted between the cheeks of the crank, a projection onthe coupling-hook adapted to engage with the crank on the rotatableshaft, a projection on the hook against which the coupling-link of anadjacent vehicle bears and presses the hook downward after retaining it,thereby causing the hook to engage with the crank and rotate the shaft,a couplinglink mounted on the pivot-pin of the coupling-hook, a stop onthe rotatable shaft, a shoulder on the coupling-link with which the stopengages, a pivoted presser-bar for guiding the said coupling-link of theadjacent vehicle, a stop for preventing the presser-bar rising, a stopon the rotatable hook for preventing the presser-bar from dropping toofar and a counterbalance-lever at the side of the vehicle, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

17. In a car-coupling the combination with a divided draw-bar head, of arotatable coupling-hook pivoted to the draw-bar head, the draw-bar headbeing recessed ornotched to permit the coupling-link of an adjacentvehicle to drop behind and in line with the axis of the pivot of thehook when the vehicles are coupled, a rotatable shaft mounted in thedrawbar head, a crank on the shaft, an eccentric-pin mounted between thecheeks of the crank, a projection on the coupling-hook adapted to engagewith the crank on the rotatable shaft, a projection on the hook againstwhich the coupling-link of an adjacent vehicle bears and presses thehook downward after retaining it,

crank and rotate the shaft, a coupling-link mounted on the pivot-pin ofthe couplinghook, a stop on the rotatable shaft, a shoulder on thecoupling-link with which the stop engages, a pivoted presser-bar forguiding the said coupling-link of the adjacent vehicle, a stop forpreventing the presser-bar rising, a stop on the rotatable hook forpreventing the presser-bar from dropping too far, and acounterbalance-lever at the side of the vehicle, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID ROCHE.

Witnesses:

HERBERT MALTBY, WALTER J. SKERTEN.

- thereby causing the hook to engage with the

